The Windows Live email system, which includes the Windows Live Mail client and Windows Live Hotmail online, is used by some businesses as a communications tool. In Windows Live, users can check the Internet Protocol (IP) address to confirm that an email came from a particular sender. IP address information can also be used to report phishing or malicious email attacks to Internet service providers and Internet crime investigation agencies. IP addresses are displayed in the full header of an email message. Because open emails only show a partial header, you must locate and display the full header to find the sender's IP address.

Windows Live Mail Message List

1. Right-click the header of the email message you want to research in the Windows Live Mail message list. A drop-down menu opens.

2. Select “Properties” on the menu to open the Properties dialog box and then click the “Details” tab to display the full header.

3. Scroll down through the header data until you see “Received:" followed by server information and IP addresses in brackets.

Windows Live Mail Open Email

1. Click the “Menus” icon near the top right side of an open email message in Windows Live Mail, then select "Show Menu Bar" to display the menu navigation bar.

2. Click “File” on the bar, select “Properties” to open the Properties dialog box, and then click the “Details” tab to display the full header.

3. Scroll down to the “Received:” area of the full header to see the IP addresses.

Windows Live Hotmail Message List

1. Right-click the "Subject" header of the email you want to research in the Hotmail message list to open a drop-down menu.

2. Select “View Message Source” on the menu to open the full header information in a separate browser tab.

3. Scroll down to the “Received:” area of the page to see IP address information.

Windows Live Hotmail Open Email

1. Locate “Reply” at the top left corner of the partial header of an open email message in Hotmail and click the "Down" arrow to open a drop-down menu of options.

2. Select “View Message Source” on the menu to display the full email header in a separate browser tab.

3. Scroll down to the “Received:” section to see IP address information.

Tips

To find the IP address from which an email originated, locate the earliest instance of "Received:" near the bottom of the full header. IP addresses are shown in reverse chronological order, so the originating IP address appears at the bottom of list.

To save time searching for an IP address in a full message header in Hotmail, open your browser’s “Find” tool and type “Received” in the search field. For example, in Chrome, click the "Wrench" icon, select “Find…” and run the search. In Firefox, click “Firefox,” select “Find” and search. In Internet Explorer, click “Tools,” roll your mouse cursor over “File,” click “Find On This Page” and search.

About the Author

Based in Southern Pennsylvania, Irene A. Blake has been writing on a wide range of topics for over a decade. Her work has appeared in projects by The National Network for Artist Placement, the-phone-book Limited and GateHouse Media. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Shippensburg University.